Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 1

jtb2412

Evening everyone.

Hope all is well (need to catch up on posts !)

Had a good weekend and spent last night listing some of our many books on Amazon. I didn't get to bed until 12.30am :eek: , i'm usually sound asleep by 10 . However, I did feel more 'spritely' this morning and am now wondering if there is such a thing as having too much sleep (been getting 9/10 hours a night lately). I'm usually up with the crows but since Xmas i've had real trouble getting out of bed . So I think i'm going to try just getting 7 or 8 hours and see how I go.

Anyway, I've just sold my first book so very pleased with myself. Only about 50 more to go . All money will go into savings pot probably towards holiday spending money. Mr T kindly paid for our holiday this year (staying in UK) so would be very good to do it all for free and not have that big expense in August.

Bought lots of meat from local farm shop on Sunday (price reduced) and now have a freezer full of various cuts of lamb, pork, beef and several chickens. Should last us a few weeks .

Day off work tomorrow but need to do some more Guide prep, got a busy term with lots of fundraising plus I do all the accounts so have to set aside some time while kids are at school and I can concentrate. Will pop into town and post Amazon book first (want to make a good impression on my first sale ).

Right off to catch up (bedtime reading ). Take care everyone xx

skint_chick

Feeling happy today things are going (too) well with the all new 2009. Did my final shop of the month and from my £100 food budget I've spent £85.57. I used to spend £40-50 a week and waste so much. February I'm aiming to get this lower as I still have a packed freezer and I want to scale back the chocolate and junk. I'm going to attempt some slow running/fast walking tomorrow afternoon after my appointment with the occupational health doctor :eek: - I still haven't handed my notice in at work until they sort out "issues" I had when I went off sick! Did some forward planning -

Frugal aims for February
-Free outdoor exercise 3+times a week
-Food budget £85
-Learn how to sew -I've advertised on Freecycle for a sewing machine
-Finish decluttering house
-Finish my first 2009 mosaic project
-Pick a new cheaper phone contract/PAYG tariff for March
-Get OH's mistaken default sorted out (by end of March)
-Reduce junk food/choc consumption by at least 50%

January20

Finally the end of January is in sight! And pay day soon! Last one was 19th December!!!
I've had lots of unexpected expenses this month like new cartridges for the printer and photopaper as my DD is doing an art GCSE. It's cost me a fortune but the last cartridges lasted 5 months so fingers crossed these do to! And I hope we have enough paper to last a while too!
On the plus side, I did some sensible shopping and got some bargains at Asda and Tescos. And every single penny spent recorded!
Let's hope February is a little cheaper!

Sarah147

Am watching the programme about Tesco chickens on channel 4, very sad to see the poor things living with thousands of other birds, cramped in their barns, unable to move. We all want cheap food, but that cheap food comes at a price, people and animals around the world are being seriously exploited as a result.

I would love to get to a point where everything I eat is grown by me in my garden or made in my kitchen by me but, sadly, due to my current living circumstances that is not possible at the moment

But seriously, what kind of a world are we living in where this is allowed and we have shops that sell clothes made by children and people getting pennies for making them, working long shifts in unsafe factories? It makes me very sad. Are we really willing to ignore where our food and drink comes from and where and how it is produced and focus soley on the price when making decisions on what to buy? It's an interesting debate.

Still, on a more positive note , had a low spend day today, just about £7 spend in M0rrisons on essentials and on stocking up on Twinings tea which is currently on special offer, half price. Just over 40p for a box. I love my herbal teas

angelatgraceland

savingfortravel wrote: »

Preparing the food for Class' chinese meal tomorrow. Got fresh Lychees which remind me of a man's under parts if you know what I mean. How do I prepare them?
Thanks
SFT

hahaha now thats just nuts!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Ive been to Mr M today and Im converted!

marri_lou

redglass wrote: »

My 'awkward heirlooms' are my grandmother's engagement and wedding rings. I was given these by my mother who explicitly said, without my asking, that if I ever wanted to sell them I was free to do so. I haven't sold them and yet I don't know why I'm keeping them. I don't wear them, I don't particularly like them and I didn't get on all that well with my gran (few people did) so they don't bring back happy memories, in fact I associate them with sadness. I don't have kids to leave them to, and I worry about burglars stealing them! I hesitate to sell them because it doesn't seem right, somehow...but I could buy a lot of useful things with the money!

Advice welcome....

They make you miserable
You have no use for them
You could use the money
You have no-one that wants them (I presume)

Look at your sig. "Begin now" I would sell them.

But at the end of the day you have to be happy with what you decide.

marri_lou

skint_chick wrote: »

Feeling happy today things are going (too) well with the all new 2009. Did my final shop of the month and from my £100 food budget I've spent £85.57. I used to spend £40-50 a week and waste so much. February I'm aiming to get this lower as I still have a packed freezer and I want to scale back the chocolate and junk. I'm going to attempt some slow running/fast walking tomorrow afternoon after my appointment with the occupational health doctor :eek: - I still haven't handed my notice in at work until they sort out "issues" I had when I went off sick! Did some forward planning -

Frugal aims for February
-Free outdoor exercise 3+times a week
-Food budget £85
-Learn how to sew -I've advertised on Freecycle for a sewing machine
-Finish decluttering house
-Finish my first 2009 mosaic project
-Pick a new cheaper phone contract/PAYG tariff for March
-Get OH's mistaken default sorted out (by end of March)
-Reduce junk food/choc consumption by at least 50%

Re the phone - 3 have a £9 a month mobile with so many free minutes and texts.
If you don't get a free sewing machine, have a look at Cash converters or similar, I got a great one for £30 a few months back, with instruction booklet and verything. It does loads of stitches and touch wood, I've never had a problem with it.

In_Search_Of_Me

savingfortravel wrote: »

Preparing the food for Class' chinese meal tomorrow. Got fresh Lychees which remind me of a man's under parts if you know what I mean. How do I prepare them?
Thanks
SFT

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: oh dear skim read this and wondered whether you were asking for lessons...just show em a pair of melons and that normally does the trisk (sorry very off topic and could result in more frugal babies...will slink back to naughty corner...)
Pleased someone (sorry pages back!) liked my siggy...sometimes I do feel an utter failure compared to others so need the reminder that I am ME!Good at some things and crap at others! A reasonably cheap day with 1.10 spent at ikea while looking for sheves....am undecided! Made another 16 and recon tiles will be about 350/400 all in...roof also needs work! bah!
Janey love the tales of the adventures with metal detector! Who needs she wee when you can just giggle while peeing behind a bush!! Just make sure you stand with wind in right direction or you get wet ankles!!

candygirl

Had a good day today, went to job centre and then to natwest to open new account as was there for over an hour!!!:eek: :eek: Then got DD some tommee tippee bottles for 99p for 2!!a proper bargain:D tonight we've been to view a house for her and it's on my road, and lovely, it makes mine look crap
Just got an email from an ad I put on freecycle for a baby bouncer so i'm happy:T :T
MUMZY hope you feel better soon hun:A :A

purplevamp

Hi all, haven't posted much as...I'd like to say I've been busy, but I've just been lazy :rotfl: . Made some shortbread to make up for the failed (but still yummy) rocky road. Spent only £5 in town today, a HSM folder that DD really wants and some biccies and dream topping in £land. I also got a new water filter jug as my old one smelt so badly of pond and had a crack in it, but as this came from our Debenhams wedding card it cost nothing :j.

Dinner was interesting tonight, left over creamy tom pork and mash for me DS1 had "something with rice and chicken" found in the freezer with broccoli.

Only working 2 days this week as I have to use up my leave before April and I have loads to go, *mental note - tidy the house!!!*